A RISE in the national minimum wage will help one million low-paid workers in the UK.
Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall has hailed news that the Government will increase the pay for the lowest paid from October 2009 – even though the rises are minimal.
For workers aged 22 and over, it will rise from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour; the rate for 18-22 year olds will increase from £4.77 to £4.83; and for 16-17 year-olds it will go up from £3.53 to £3.57 an hour.
From October 2010 the top rate will be extended to 21-year-olds.
Mr Hall said: “The minimum wage has been in place for 10 years and remains one of the most important rights for workers.
“I’m very proud of the difference it has made to the lives of the UK’s lowest-paid workers. It protects them from exploitation and also creates a level playing field for business, making a huge contribution to the UK’s economic success.
“This increase is a fair deal for people who work hard – and represents extra help for almost a million people.”
